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Friday, January 10, 2020

My ReviewIn Cruel Candy Fred (Winifred) Page moves to Estes Park, Colorado with her Corgi dog
Watson after a divorce and a major career change. She wants to live
close to her family and open a small town bookstore. The only problem?
When she enters the store she has rented she finds that a neighboring
merchant, a candy shop owner, has been killed there. Her stepfather is
accused of the crime so she works to clear his name.I wanted to read Cruel Candy because I enjoy cozy mysteries, like small town settings, love bookstores (I have a small online bookshop), and love Corgis!This is the first book in the Cozy Corgi mystery series and it is a wonderful start for the series. The author did a great job of introducing Fred, her family, and the town of Estes Park. Watson the Corgi is stubborn and delightful and completely realistically portrayed.The mystery is well written, with several layers -- Fred's stepfather being accused, a second murder, a possible tie in to drugs. There is also the intrigue of Fred's flirtation with the town's detective, Branson.I enjoyed this mystery so much that I would happily continue on with the series if I wasn't already committed to several upcoming book reviews. There are 16 (!) books in the series, so plenty of Cozy Corgi mysteries to read.I highly recommend Cruel Candy for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for anyone who loves dogs and small town settings. I look forward to continuing with the series soon.About the Series

Winifred Page and her corgi, Watson,
move to Estes Park to hit the Reset button on life. Fred is about to
open her dream bookshop, and the only challenges she anticipates are
adjusting to small-town life, tourists, and living close to her loveable
mother, Phyllis, and hippy stepfather, Barry.

When Fred steps into her
soon-to-be-bookshop for the first time, she expects dust bunnies and
spiders… not the dead body in the upstairs kitchen. The local police
have an easy suspect—Barry.

Determined to prove quirky Barry innocent of murder, Fred puts on her
detective hat, and with Watson by her side, she explores her new town
and gets acquainted with her fellow shopkeepers. Could one of her
friendly neighbors be the real culprit? And what would be the motive for
killing the owner of the Sinful Bites candy store? The secrets Fred
discover put her at odds with the local police sergeant and threaten her
cozy future in Estes.

With snow falling outside, all Fred wants to do is curl up by the
fire with a good book and Watson snuggled at her feet. But before she
can begin her new life and put her plans for her bookshop into action,
Fred and Watson have a mystery to solve…

The winter holidays in charming Estes
Park lulls Winifred Page and her corgi, Watson, into thoughts of spiced
chai and gingerbread as they settle into their new home. Fred’s dream
bookshop is becoming a reality, and with Christmas only days away, her
only concerns are spending time with family, enforcing Watson’s diet,
and finding the perfect gifts.

The toy store beckons Fred and her
friend Katie, who dash in out of the cold, during a shopping spree to
discover handmade toys, cuddly stuffed animals… and a dying man on the
floor.

When Katie’s desperate attempts to save
the man ends in her being taken in for his murder, Fred once again dons
her detective hat. She puts aside her Christmas list and—with Watson
sniffing around—begins a list of suspects. But as quickly as clues point
to one person, new discoveries shift the spotlight to another.

With Katie’s freedom in the balance,
Fred has little time to think about gifts or to enjoy the holiday lights
and music. A killer is on the loose, one who became violent in a
picture-perfect Christmas toy shop, and Fred and Watson can’t begin to
predict what might happen next. . .

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable gingerbread.)

The Cozy Corgi bookshop finally opens,
and Winifred Page and her headstrong corgi, Watson, are ready to welcome
their first patrons. With her new best friend, Katie, creating heavenly
pastries in the bakery on the top floor of the store, Fred’s dreams are
all coming together in delicious and unexpected ways.

When Katie caters a meeting of the
Feathered Friends Brigade and drags Fred along, they expect nothing more
than loquacious chatter about birds as they endeavor to build a
professional relationship with the owner of the wild bird shop. Fred and
Katie are quickly roped into a moonlight snowshoeing hike in hopes of
spotting a rare owl. While the endangered bird proves elusive… the
murdered man in the snow is hard to miss.

Fred’s growing relationship with
Sergeant Wexler hits a snag when he forbids her from donning her sleuth
hat yet again. But Fred is a lot like her corgi—she doesn’t like being
told what to do, even if it puts an end to a possible romance.

As Fred and Watson delve into the lives
of the ornithological club members, the tangled birds’ nest of an
investigation makes Fred wonder if she should have left this one to the
police. But when feathers begin to fly, Fred has no choice but to flush
out a killer…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable ham and cheese croissants.)

For Winifred Page and her devoted corgi,
Watson, the puzzle pieces of life are falling into place as they settle
into their home in the Colorado mountains. Surrounded by family and
friends, Fred begins to relax into the charm and beauty of being the
owner of a bookshop and bakery.

The buzz of possible romance—though Fred
wasn’t looking for a relationship—has quieted as one of her suitors is
no longer a viable option while the other has moved into the friend
zone. But all thoughts of romance, wanted or not, fly out the window
when Fred finds a dead body in the Cozy Corgi bakery… again.

Things get stickier when Fred’s main
suspect turns out to be a family member of one of the local police
officers—the one who already despises Fred and her little dog.
Determined not to let past grievances cloud her judgment, Fred tips her
detective hat and pokes deeper into the murder investigation. But in a
mystery that becomes smoke and mirrors, nothing is as it seems.

The revelations Fred unveils threaten not only her picture-perfect world but her very life….

Tourist season is about to begin, and
the lovely weather has Winifred Page and her corgi sidekick, Watson,
leaving the comfort of the Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery to reluctantly
attend a celebration at the Black Bear Roaster coffee shop. But a chill
of uncertainty settles over Fred when a choking death doesn’t seem so
accidental—despite the dry, hazardous scones.

As Fred and Police Sergeant Branson
Wexler rekindle a possible romance, Fred shares her suspicions. But is
she seeing murder at every turn? Learning to trust her gut feelings,
Fred risks the ire of the coffee shop owner to investigate not one, but
two, deaths.

As suspects and motives abound, old
resentments are uncovered, and Fred and Watson build new friendships
even as they follow the crumbs to find clues to a killer.

At the height of the summer season, Estes Park explodes with people, wildlife, fireworks, and… murder.

The Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery is
buzzing with tourists, and Winifred Page and her quirky corgi, Watson,
celebrate the Fourth of July picnicking with family and friends—of the
human and four-legged variety. As summer blooms with romance for Fred
and Sergeant Branson Wexler, murder lurks around the corner.

With a friend’s life in danger, Fred and
Watson doggedly pursue the investigation, even as Fred finds herself
once again at odds with the police department. But caring for two
chaotic corgis while navigating emotions from the past in the midst of
solving a mystery might be too much, and Fred hits a roadblock.

As relationships are tested and secrets exposed, Fred might lose more than one person she loves…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable dog treat bars, but are also human friendly.)

A New Age conference comes to Estes Park, Colorado, bringing a cacophony of tie-dye, crystals, and murder. . .

As summer draws to a close, the Spirit,
Health, and Heart Conference arrives, just in time for Winifred’s
sisters to open their store next to the Cozy Corgi Bookshop. To Fred’s
surprise, Chakras turns out to be a beautiful addition to the delightful
mountain town. The shop even has a room so pleasing in its crystal
tranquility that Fred’s corgi, Watson, approves—and hardly anything
impresses him.

But not everyone is charmed by the
crystals, tarot readings, and messages of personal enlightenment. When a
famous spiritualist is found dead, Chakras and the entire town is
plunged into a conflict that touches the lives of those closest to Fred.

Although she is hesitant to become
involved, it is simply not in the cards for Fred to sit out the
investigation. As she and Watson embark on a journey that forces them to
take a look into the darker shadows of Estes Park, Fred soon finds
herself digging into the secrets of those she loves…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable quiches.)

Fall gives way to winter in the Colorado mountains, ushering in snow, pumpkin spice, the bugling of elk, and murder…

Estes Park bustles with tourists and
locals for its Halloween celebration, and Winifred Page and her corgi
sidekick, Watson, are enjoying their favorite pastries as they greet
trick-or-treaters outside the Cozy Corgi Bookstore and Bakery. But a
chilling afterhours break-in at the charming bookshop leaves Fred and
Watson shaken, especially with its connection to a recent poaching
incident in the national park. By daybreak, on a cool morning walk
through town, Fred discovers the body of one of the poachers…

When Fred’s close friend, park ranger
Leo Lopez, asks for her help in proving the innocence of a fellow
ranger, Fred and Watson join the investigation. But with every uncovered
clue hinting the police have the right person, Fred must uncover a
mystery whose webs reach into the past and her experiences over the past
year.

Even amid the beauty of the snow
covering the mountains and the twinkling lights of the beginning holiday
season, Fred and Watson won’t make it to Thanksgiving without facing
dangers and revelations that will change their lives.

Estes Park is a wonderland of twinkling
lights and softly falling snow, and Winifred Page wants nothing more
than to snuggle up in the mystery room with Watson at her feet—after
all, Katie’s pastries are tempting pieces of heaven, especially beside a
warm fire. But Christmas is fast approaching, and Fred is out on a cold
morning visiting neighboring stores and planning a celebration at the
Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery.

Fred is welcoming the holiday spirit and
appreciating the friendships, love, and support she’s found during her
first year in her new hometown. But the night’s festivities become a
scene for local drama, and by morning a trip to the magic shop to
collect a present has Fred and Watson stumbling upon a murder scene. In
an unexpected twist, Fred is asked to investigate, but the suspect list
keeps growing, and every one of them would give Ebenezer Scrooge a run
for his money.

With Fred still coming to grips with a
recent betrayal, shifting through all the curmudgeons to crack the case
may take more holiday magic than she and Watson possess.

A celebratory weekend at a historic inn brings a blizzard, delicious cornbread, a cozy fire, and a murder… or two…Winifred Page and her sidekick corgi, Watson, join an assortment of
family and friends to celebrate her uncles’ anniversary at Baldpate Inn,
nestled above Estes Park, Colorado. A blizzard is approaching, but the
prospect of being snowed in means more time in the lovely mountain
retreat—complete with river rock fireplaces, log cabin rooms, and a
collection of thousands of keys from around the world.With the blizzard raging outside the rustic inn, the early arrival of
a knitting group adds a touch of drama, but nothing can unravel the
cozy party spirit. Even when the power goes out, the merrymaking
continues by lantern light. But in the flickering shadows and twisting
hallways, relationships transform, secrets are uncovered, and death
comes calling.A weekend of glittering celebration unlocks a storm of change for Fred and Watson…(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for scrumptious cornbread.)

Estes Park is fired up by a new coffee
shop and pottery studio bringing chocolate espresso pastries, fierce
competitive spirits, and murder…

Winifred Page might feel apprehension as
she steps into the Koffee Kiln—Carla Beaker’s new charming coffee shop
and pottery studio—but her corgi sidekick, Watson, welcomes the idea of a
new place for snacks. With Carla’s disdain for the Cozy Corgi Bookshop
and Bakery, Fred fears the caffeine will come with a side of drama. What
she finds is delicious chocolate espresso scones, decaf coffee… and a
dead body.

As Fred and Watson fire up their
investigative savvy, they face down one of Estes Park’s cold-hearted
matriarchs. To solve a murder, Fred must confront her own insecurities
as she navigates the tangled coils of obsessions, business deals, and
betrayals.

As the summer tourist season begins, downtown Estes Park bustles with celebrations, inventions, pastries, and murder…

Winifred Page’s twin brothers-in-law are
finally ready to open their invention shop right next to the Cozy Corgi
Bookshop and Bakery. But the noise level is keeping customers away from
the bookshop and driving Fred and her corgi sidekick, Watson, out of
their minds.

Adding to her stress, family and friends
are gearing up to celebrate Fred’s fortieth birthday—not that she’s
overly concerned about her age…. Mere hours after entering her new
decade of life, resentments reach an explosive level as downtown Estes
Park is rocked by a fearsome calamity.

As the shop owners of Elkhorn Avenue
come to grips with the crisis, Fred and Watson are pulled into the
investigation. While she’s unsure there’s a murder to solve, Fred soon
discovers a host of secrets and lies….

Summer in Estes Park is filled with tourists, wildlife, pastries, and scandal…

The Chipmunk Chronicles, the local
newspaper, has a new gossip column—and gossip is great for the Cozy
Corgi Bookshop and Bakery. Though infuriated by the way people are
treated by the column’s author, Winifred Page can’t help wondering about
the outrageous revelations. Fred’s grumpy corgi, Watson, however, is
more concerned with an endless search for treats than the rumors flying
around town.

When Gerald Jackson, a less than
brilliant local lawyer, is featured in the column, people begin to
suspect he’s working the town over in a quest for wealth rather than
fighting for justice. As his status sinks, others are pulled under with
him—people Fred loves.

For once, Fred and Watson are cajoled
into investigation mode not for murder, but to help clear her friends’
names and their tarnished reputations. But while the greed and secret
dealings in the dark she uncovers bring more questions than answers,
murder finds a way to make an appearance after all…

Estes Park is bustling with fall
tourists as Winifred and Katie deck out the Cozy Corgi Bookstore and
Bakery, while corgi mascot, Watson, helps in his own special
way—snacking, napping, and being his adorable grumpy self.

When Fred and Leo’s date at the romantic
restaurant, Pasta Thyme, leads to an invitation of a murder scene,
instead of ghouls and goblins, Fred is haunted by ghosts from the past.
Death might lurk around every corner as Fred investigates motives of
infidelity, jealousy, and the dark shadow cast by a crime syndicate.

Christmas ushers in snowstorms, fruitcake, and a horde of Santa’s naughty elves…

No place is more perfect for the winter
holidays than the charming mountain town of Estes Park. As the Cozy
Corgi Bookshop and Bakery glistens with lights and garlands, Winifred
Page allows the seasonal merriment to brush away all worry and fear.
Watson, her grumpy corgi, is about as far from stressed as
possible—after all, with the holiday baking, delectable crumbs are
everywhere.

Estes Park’s new Christmas store is
chosen to receive exclusive rights to sell a much-coveted collection of
tiny elf figurines, but not everyone is thrilled, especially not the
owner of the original Christmas shop. Bickering between local merchants
is nothing new and doesn’t dampen the Christmas cheer or holiday glee.
However, when nightly break-ins begin to occur, Santa himself is caught
in the act, Fred and Watson are pulled away from the bookshop to
investigate the holiday mayhem.

Unfortunately, while Santa keeps a list
of nice and naughty children, he’s allowed his elves to have free rein,
and there’s nothing nice about them…

About Mildred Abbot

Reading the Cozy Corgi series is pretty
much all you need to know about Mildred. In real life, she’s obsessed
with everything she writes about: Corgis, Books, Cozy Mountain Towns,
and Baked Goods. She’s not obsessed with murder, however. At least not
at her own hands (nor paid for… no contract killing here). But since
childhood, starting with Nancy Drew, trying to figure out who-dun-it has
played a formative role in her personality. Having Fred and Watson
stroll into her mind was a touch of kismet.

About Me

Trish is a long-time online seller who loves all things vintage, but especially vintage children's books and ephemera. In other lives, worked as a bookstore manager and preschool teacher. Always pursuing vintage treasures, great reads, interesting words, and happiness.